Place of Origin: Ancient Mesopotamia
Origin Date: ~3000 BCE (Sumerian period)
Domain: Sky, celestial realms.
Symbols: Crown or tiara, stars.
Attributes: Authority, cosmic balance.
Religion: Mesopotamian Mythology
Description
Anu was regarded as the highest deity in the Annunaki pantheon, symbolizing the heavens and cosmic order. As the progenitor of many gods, Anu held authority over divine and earthly matters. He was often depicted as a distant but powerful figure in sacred texts like the "Enuma Elish."
Relations: Parent of Enlil, grandparent of Inanna and Utu.
Epithets: “King of the Gods,” “Father Anu.”
Equivalents: Greek: Uranus, Roman: Caelus
Iconography: Rarely depicted; symbolized through stars and crowns.
Worship Beliefs and Practices
Worship centered around offerings in ziggurats, though Anu’s temples were fewer compared to other deities.
Narratives
Enuma Elish (c. 1100 BCE)
This Babylonian creation epic describes the birth of the gods and the formation of the universe. Anu plays a pivotal role as the progenitor of many deities, including Enlil and Ea. He grants Marduk authority to defeat Tiamat, the chaos dragon, and establish cosmic order.
Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2100 BCE)
Anu appears briefly when Ishtar, his daughter, requests the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh for rejecting her advances. The Bull’s rampage leads to its death at the hands of Gilgamesh and Enkidu, marking a turning point in the epic.
Myth of Adapa (c. 1800 BCE)
Anu summons Adapa, a mortal, to the heavens after he breaks the wing of the South Wind. Anu offers Adapa the food and water of immortality, but Adapa refuses, having been warned by Ea that they would bring death.
Hurrian Kumarbi Cycle (c. 1400 BCE)
In this Hurrian myth, Anu is overthrown by Kumarbi, who bites off his genitals and gives birth to the storm god Teshub. This tale reflects themes of succession and conflict among the gods.
Sacred Texts: "Enuma Elish," c. 2nd millennium BCE.